Help, I've lost a thread!

Havana: taxi from the airport to city center can easily be done for 15 CUC.

Procedure (works even at 12 PM, won't take more then 3 minutes):

1) For not spanish-speakers: write the adress you have to go to on a piece of paper.

2) At the airport (before or after customs): get some CUC's. Change some money at the Cadeca. Ask for small bills. And ask for a receipt and check that receipt.

3a) After customs you will be approached by someone offering a taxi for 25 CUC. Say 15 ("quinze"). This will probably not be accepted. Walk on
3b) Another person will offer you a taxi. He also wants 20-25 CUC. Say 15 ("quinze"). This will probably not be accepted. Walk on

4) Go out of the building. Go to the left or to the right.

5a) Approach a taxi driver. Show the adress and say 15 ("quinze"). This will probably not be accepted. Walk on
5b) Approach a taxi driver. Show the adress and say 15 ("quinze"). This will probably be accepted. You now have your taxi.

My hero!

Thank you very much :)

Sonia

Two things to do AFTER you have passed through customs: (1) change some of your currency into Cuban currency (pesos convertibles, also known as CUC). There may be a CADECA (currency exchange booth) open in the same room where you are waiting for your luggage, and before you pass through customs, but maybe not. If not, once you are through customs, you will find a booth there. But also a line-up. Best to go UPSTAIRS to the departure lounge, and change your currency there. (Little or no line). Have a small calculator in hand, and be sure that you know--based on the posted exchange rate--what you are supposed to receive. Do not leave the window until you have counted your money, and have a receipt for same in hand--even if there is a lineup behind you.

Second thing to do: go to the map table (this also in the departure lounge), and pick up whatever maps you think you might need. They can be found (for the same price) elsewhere in Havana, sometimes, in some shops. But you have the best selection right there. You'll want a map of Havana if you plan to spend any amount of time there, and a map of the whole island if you plan to travel around some. CUBA: MAPA GEOGRAFICO is a good one. If you intend to rent a car, you'd also need the booklet-type map called GUIA DE CARRETERAS. But this one isn't necessary if you plan to remain in Havana, or get around by bus and taxi. Most maps run around 5 CUC. Again know how much the maps you buy should cost, and double-check your change. (In fact, you'll always want to do this, most especially in bars and restaurants. "Mistakes" are common, but usually quickly corrected if you point them out and insist on prices that match the menu. That said, you should know that if it doesn't say on the menu that a piece of bread or a pat of butter is included--then it isn't. If you accept such extras, be prepared to pay for them.

Two things to do AFTER you have passed through Immigration:

Sorry ttjpdo... mixing up Customs and Immigration is a pet peeve of mine...

Cheers,
Terry

Sonia, what works for one tourist doesn’t necessary means it will work for you. For some tourists just getting to Cuba is a stressful experience and the last thing you want is to be stressed out after landing with your luggage in tow. If running up and down the terminal for a $15 taxi doesn’t work I suggest you ask the driver to use the meter to your casa and forget about saving a buck of two. I know it’s possible to find a taxi in Havana to the airport for $15 but from the airport to town they have a monopoly on the new arrivals especially at night. There is nothing cheap about Cuba and you could spend your vacation in the airport looking for a $15 ride.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>I know it’s possible to find a taxi in Havana to the airport for $15 <hr></blockquote>

The price for a metered Lada from Vedado to the airport is 9.80. I've done it tons of times. You can always find a Lada outside the Cohiba and pretty easily outside the NH hotel, too. Loads of them outside el Neptuno, too. The route to the airport is one of those that the price difference makes it worth getting a Lada. Unfortunately, Ladas are not allowed to take people FROM the airport anymore. What you can do is to ask other tourists to share the cost of a taxi downtown. If it's 3 or 4 of you, you can get to the most central hotel and from there take another taxi, Havana is small that shouldn't be lore than extra 5 CUC.

The point is if she can’t find a taxi for $15 than ask the driver to use the meter. The taxi at Cienfuegos airport charges the tourists a flat rate of $6 to town and if you complain they charge $5 but if you ask the driver to use the meter it’s $3.75 to downtown Parque Jose Marti. In Cuba you have to be flexible. In Havana airport to town is one price and town to airport usually less. Personally, I would ask Truetown to pick me up and drive me to my casa and send me the bill. I hate negotiating prices.

My experience: taxi-drivers at the airport often refuse to put on the meter

Here some posts from the past:

Reply: 15
Date Posted: Tue January 09, 2007 11:40 AM
Posted By: EZ_Armand
The hard working cab drivers are the one I pay 10 or 20 mn pesos to, and I don't tip them or pay them extra. Why should I pay extra for an airport ride. Either you pick up a bat and play the game of the country you're visiting, or you get screwed.

PontDain and cubafish are right on, and I've wrote similar in the past. $12 - $15 from, and $12 to the airport anywhere on the Malecon.

There are 2 settings on the meters. One faster than the other. Yeah sure thing, try calling the police. That cabbie is going to set the meter on the faster setting, hit every stop light and venture down side streets to ensure your tab is over $20.

Reply: 18
Date Posted: Wed January 10, 2007 8:21 PM
Posted By: EZ_Armand
I needed to go on the other side of the tunnel in the Casablanca-Regla/Cienfuegos-Cojimar area. The taxi boss, driver and I agreed on $12. This was a couple of years ago.The meter was attached to the visor of a Kia Sportage or something similar.

The driver turned on the meter as we left the airport and I told him in a slur of Cuban dribble, "we have agreed on $12." I kept eyeballing the meter as we were on Boyeros. He flipped a toggle switch on the back of it, that I felt it later, and the numbers were heading north in price a lot faster. He told me, "if you don't like it you can get out." I thought about it, because I could have hailed another taxi for about $5 from there.

He decides to get on Neptuno instead of the Malecon and he is hitting all the red lights, and I tell him "no more than $12." He flips the switch back to the slow rate speed and hops on the Malecon. We arrive where we need to be and the total is $13.08. I give him $13 and he's bitching about the 8 cents. I start bitching about the extra $1.

I usually fill up a gas tank of a friend's moto on the return to the airport. I know it $12 on the return to the airport, because a guy I know told me, who wears one of those grey Havana Club tshirts and watches cars on Parque Central. Yeah, poor bastard. He clears about $300conbertible a month, working every other day.

After that, I started to walk the sidewalk away from the airport, talking into the windows of the lined up cabs, until I got the price I wanted.

I recently spent 3 weeks in La Habana (end of March into April). For the first week I would deal pre-set prices with the taxi drivers until one day I kept my mouth shut and gave the address. He reluctantly turned on the metre. Surprise!! upon reaching my casa particular, the fare was much cheaper than the other trips.
I learned that the govt. sets the rates and the metres are checked by inspectors. Since the govt. really wants the tourists to return, the rates are fair. So, stop haggling.
Only legal taxis have a metre. Only legal taxis can drive you from Havana proper to the beaches such as the Playas del Este; or anywhere else for that matter. Taxis & other traffic have to drive through several Police checkpoints on the way to the beaches and back. If an illegal taxi is caught, the driver is arrested and handcuffed. The passengers will then have to explain things..............
The best ones are Panataxi, with the phone numbers 555-5555 painted on the sides. I would say they 80% of the cars are fairly new Peugeot from France.
If they don't answer at that number, try 555-5556 or7 or 8.